Colorado Sports Betting: Best CO Online Sportsbook Sites Nov. 2023

Is sports betting legal in Colorado?

Yes, betting on sports in fully legal in Colorado. The state has a dozen retail sportsbooks and licenses and regulates 20 different online sportsbooks you can use on PC or mobile devices.

CO sports betting key developments and updates

Colorado sports betting quick facts

Colorado betting promos and bonuses

Colorado is one of the most challenging environments for online sportsbook operators. The best way each of the 20 sports betting sites can stand out and attract new business is by offering the best sportsbook promos, and loyalty programs to keep players coming back.

While several sportsbooks do offer deposit match bonuses, the most common Colorado sportsbook promos remain first bet insurance in some form or another. Remember that in each of these scenarios where welcome bonuses are insurances on the first wager, you won’t see any bonus monies if your first bet wins, only if it loses.

Now, if you’re a veteran sports bettor already signed up at one or more of Colorado’s 20 online sportsbooks, the welcome bonus may not be available, but that doesn’t mean you can’t continue to shop around.

Bettors are allowed to redeem one welcome bonus at each of the 20 online sportsbooks, and when more launch in the future, cagey veteran sharks can redeem those, too. Otherwise, keep close tabs on ongoing promotions once you log into your accounts. Odds boosts, reduced juice, bonus bets, and other reward programs encourage you to stick with one sportsbook over another.

Top Colorado betting sites

With 20 available, all Colorado betting sites have something to offer the casual sports bettor. However, in such a crowded space, operators continue creating unique experiences for players to keep them returning. The advancements in live video streaming technologies allow several sports betting apps to offer live video streams of their betting events.

In contrast, most offers live in-game betting where you can wager on the next play, quarter, or team to score. This constant desire to up the ante and invent creative ways to improve the user experience always benefits you, the player.

Here is what the sportsbooks in Colorado are boasting these days:

Why FanDuel is the best sportsbook in Colorado

FanDuel was one of the first online sportsbooks to launch in Colorado in 2020. All these years later, this industry leader remains the top sportsbook in the Rocky Mountain state. Numbers don’t lie, and if you check out FanDuel’s app store rating on iOS and Android for betting apps, it’s even ahead of rival DraftKings for producing quality products and user experiences.

To claim the welcome offer, new FanDuel users will need to register for an account, make a first-time deposit of $10 or more, and place an initial wager of at least $5 on any pre-game moneyline market. If that bet wins, the sportsbook will award $150 in bonus bets — no FanDuel promo code needed. 

Additionally, once the sign-up offer expires, FanDuel is well known for offering best-in-class weekly promotions and perks like boosted odds, same-game parlays, and rewards programs that provide benefits to loyal bettors.

Though others have jumped on the trend, FanDuel was one of the first-to-market operators of live video streaming. Bettors can watch live events in the app while keeping an eye on their bet slip simultaneously on one of the best live betting sites. With dozens of betting markets to choose from, like the NFL, European soccer, and PGA tour events, FanDuel has something to offer every bettor.

Bettors should also applaud FanDuel for their superior security measures and easy-to-access customer service team. At some point, a question will arise, and if you want answers quickly, you’ll want to reach out to FanDuel’s all-star customer service team. Check out our FanDuel review for more.

Other Colorado online sportsbooks and sports betting apps

Caesars Colorado

With global name recognition, it’s hard to ignore the Caesars Colorado sportsbook. If brand awareness wasn’t enough, their app store rating is above average among iOS and Android users. New players can earn up to a $1,000 first bet using Caesars Sportsbook promo code SBRBONUS1000 during sign-up. New players can also earn thousands of Caesars Rewards Points upon sign-up, which can be redeemed later for bonus bets and VIP experiences at Caesars properties.

Where to bet on sports in Colorado: Caesars review

DraftKings Colorado

The industry leader made a name for itself when daily fantasy sports took the United States by storm years ago. Still, DraftKings remains a top dog, thanks to its wide-ranging betting markets and second-to-none user experience. Just look at the app store ratings of 4.8 by iPhone users and 4.5 by Android bettors — they believe in DraftKings.

New players can earn $150 in bonus bets right now when they sign up and wager $5 on any sports market. DraftKings will process payouts on the same day for some players. No DraftKings promo code is required.

Where to bet on sports in Colorado: DraftKings review. Comparison review: FanDuel vs. DraftKings.

BetMGM Colorado

The King of Parlays has made a home in the Rocky Mountains but is consistently a top-five operator in every state where sports betting is legal. The app store ratings below speak for themselves.

New players can be slightly more aggressive on their first wager right now as the BetMGM Colorado sportsbook offers up to $1,500 in first bet insurance. If your first bet loses, BetMGM will stake you up to $1,500 in lost monies as bonus bets. You do not need a BetMGM bonus code to claim this reward.

Where to bet on sports in Colorado: BetMGM review

bet365 Colorado

bet365 became the 26th sportsbook to launch online and via a sports betting app in Colorado. While it remains the second-most popular sports betting app among iPhone users, Android bettors believe the product could be better. New players can earn $150 in bonus bets sans a bet365 bonus code when they wager $5 on their first bet, or they can opt for a $1,000 First Bet Safety Net instead.

Where to bet on sports in Colorado: bet365 review

Colorado sportsbooks honorable mentions

Although the remaining operators didn’t crack out the top five Colorado sportsbooks, we encourage you to check out the SBR review at least and dig into whether or not their services are what you are looking for in a sports betting site and app.

• PointsBet review
• BetRivers review
• SuperBook review
• Betfred review
• Betway review
• Tipico review
• SBK review
• ESPN BET review
• SI Sportsbook review
• PlayUp review
• Bally Bet review
• Betsafe review
• BetMonarch review
• Circa Sports review
• Sky Ute review

How we rate and review Colorado sportsbooks

Sportsbook Review’s editorial team independently reviews each Colorado sportsbook for quality. SBR’s team of experts comes from various sports betting backgrounds, allowing for a more comprehensive critique of operator’s sites and sports betting apps. Since there are 20 online sportsbooks to choose from in the Rocky Mountain State, the margin for error/originality between sportsbooks is quite slim. However, SBR’s editorial team does focus most of its time and attention on the following six categories.

Welcome bonuses and promotions

Operators know they only get one chance to make a first impression. So, they need to emit the proverbial bat signal and draw attention to their products via substantial welcome bonuses and ongoing promotions to entice players to return to their platform. These days, the most common welcome bonuses are deposit matches, bonus bets, and first bet insurance, which allows first-time players to be slightly more aggressive on their first wager.

Once the sign-up offers expire, account promotions and perks include reduced juice, boosted odds, bonus bets, first bet insurance, and loyalty reward programs. These allow players to accumulate points on every bet that can be redeemed for future bets, tournament entries, and other VIP experiences not found anywhere else.

User experience

Grading a user experience is challenging because to each their own, right? However, we can all agree that we know the difference between a positive user experience and a negative one. The app should be solid, not “hang” or “lock up” or randomly stop working. The site should be easy to navigate from page to page. Creating a bet slip should be easy to use. Banking options should be easily accessible.

As more states and operators have launched in the United States, we have learned that the more seamless the process, the better the user experience. Fewer clicks to get to where you want to go, the better.

Sports bet variety

We all know that the four major sports in the United States are NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL, but sports bet variety on these platforms matters. Thus, we are rating sportsbooks based on access to European soccer markets, PGA majors, tennis majors, UFC events, and heavyweight boxing bouts because a Paul brother will probably fight every six months now.

Individual sports aside, the types of bets matter, too. Moneylines, point spread, and point totals betting are great for novice players, but we’ll also want to see operators offering live in-game betting, player props, parlays, teasers, and futures odds on the board.

Banking options

Before legal sports betting in Colorado, the most significant friction point to entry was safe and secure banking options. This is no longer an issue as most online sportsbooks in the Rocky Mountain State accept major credit and debit cards, Paypal, bank wire transfers, and other e-wallet options.

Payout speed

SBR’s editorial team reviews the withdrawal request process for each of Colorado’s 20 online sportsbooks. The average time to receive a payout is five business days, but it can be longer if you request a physical check be mailed to your residence. In that case, it can take up to 15 business days. The faster the payout speed of an operator, the higher the rating SBR awards the site.

Security and customer support

With personal and financial information being beamed back and forth between online sportsbook operators and bettors, Colorado sportsbooks must use the latest encryption software and prioritize data security. You don’t want bad actors accessing personal data because an online sportsbook was lazy in setting up firewall protections for your accounts.

If you ever run into an issue, Colorado sportsbooks must make customer service reps easy to access at all hours of the day. Most sites and the app now offer a live chat function that can help get you answers to all your queries as soon as possible rather than waiting on hold via phone or waiting on an emailed response back. The CS team, via live chat, answers your questions on demand.

How to start betting in Colorado

Suppose you’re eager to back the Denver Nuggets heading into the NBA playoffs or champing at the bit to wager on the Denver Broncos to flip the script with Sean Payton coaching Russell Wilson. In that case, there are a few things to do before placing your first bet at a Colorado online sportsbook or sports betting app. Here is a quick and easy explainer of how to get started betting in the Rocky Mountain State.

Select a sportsbook licensed in Colorado

First, do your due diligence by reviewing some or all of the 20 online sportsbooks SBR’s editorial team rated. This will help you make an educated decision before investing time and making a first deposit with a Colorado sportsbook operator.

When you’ve found a favorite, it’s time to either sign up via their online sportsbook on a desktop/laptop computer or download their app onto a smartphone or tablet.

Register online

The registration process is clean and straightforward and should take less than five minutes.

Fire up your sports betting app to start. The operator will require you to provide basic personal information like your full name, home address, email address, phone number, date of birth, and social security number. Sportsbooks need your social security number for various reasons, namely for age verification and to avoid duplicate accounts that hackers can make in your name.

The operator will also likely send you an email to activate your account. Once you click that link, the sportsbook will ask you to create a unique username and secret password. The strongest account passwords combine uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters.

Deposit and claim a bonus

After registering and logging in, head over to the cashier’s page. Here you’ll sync your preferred banking method with your Colorado sportsbook account. The most common deposit options are credit card, debit card, bank wire transfer, or third-party services like Paypal.

At this step, before you submit the amount you want to deposit, you’ll want to have any required welcome bonus promo codes handy to punch into the specified field on the screen. The last thing you want to have to happen is to make a first deposit and leave cash on the table because you forgot a promo code.

Select and finalize your bet

Now that you’re registered and have made a first-time deposit, it’s time to review the betting markets available. A positive user experience allows you to seamlessly move around the sportsbook from one sport and event to another with lag times. Building a bet slip with a combination of different wagers on the same ticket should be easy.

Once your bet slip is complete, finalize your bet by clicking submit. You’ll receive a bet confirmation once it goes through.

Win and withdraw your payout

Congrats, your first bets were winners! Maybe you’re eager to get some return on investment sooner rather than later. You can quickly request a withdrawal by returning to the cashier’s page. Payout options are via bank wire transfer, third parties like Paypal, or you can even request a withdrawal via check by courier. Just know that it can take up to 15 business days to receive your funds if you order a physical cheque.

Colorado sports betting handle

Thanks mainly to the NFL regular season, legal Colorado sportsbooks — both mobile and retail — raked in $518 million or more in the last three months of 2022. The state’s total betting handle for 2022 was $5.17 billion, up from $3.83 billion in 2021.

Of those total bets, Colorado enjoyed tax revenues of $19.7 million in 2022, up from $11.7 million the previous year. If everything goes as planned this fiscal year, sports betting could generate more than $30 million for the Rocky Mountain State. We should also expect the sports betting handle to flirt with $6 billion in a state with only 5.8 million people.

2023 Colorado handle

Colorado sports leagues and teams to bet on

You can bet on Colorado’s professional teams, like the Broncos, Nuggets, Colorado Rockies, and the Stanley Cup Champion Colorado Avalanche, with the most popular betting markets like moneylines, point spreads, and point totals. You can also wager on in-state college teams, which is fun during bowl season and March Madness basketball tournaments.

While backing your hometown teams can be fun, it’s often not the smartest betting strategy. Bet with your brain, and don’t let emotion get in the way of handicapping a matchup. Keep an eye on injury updates, suspensions, and depth chart changes that may be hidden in headline news.

Denver Broncos 🏈

The Denver Broncos are the most popular sports team in Colorado, which is hardly surprising given the NFL's dominance of the sports landscape in America. The Broncos have an impressive eight AFC championships, many of them owing to the spectacular play of Hall of Fame quarterback John Elway. After winning back-to-back Super Bowls in 1997 and 1998, Elway retired on top.

The Broncos carried on, of course. They won another Super Bowl in 2015, this time the result of an incredible defense. The team was sold to new ownership in 2022 for $4.65 billion, who quickly brought in Sean Payton as the new head coach in an attempt to return title contention.

Denver Nuggets 🏀

For most of their existence, the Denver Nuggets were afterthoughts of the NBA's Western Conference. While teams like the Lakers and Spurs were winning titles, the Nuggets just hung out in the background. Sure, they would win the odd Northwest Division title, but those mean very little in the NBA compared to championship rings.

That all changed when they drafted Nikola Jokic in 2014, with the 41st overall pick. Within a few years they were regular playoff contenders. In 2023, led by Jokic's phenomenal all-around play, the Nuggets won their first NBA championship. 

Colorado Rockies ⚾

The Colorado Rockies joined MLB as an expansion side in 1993. Despite the thin mountain air seeing baseballs fly out of Coors Field at an above-average rate, the Rockies haven't seen much success. They boast just a single NL Pennant from 2007 but were swept in the World Series by the Boston Red Sox.

Colorado sports fans still love the Rockies, even without any consistent success. After all, it's one of the only options for pro sports all summer, along with the Colorado Rapids of MLS. It remains a popular betting market on many sportsbook, thanks in part to MLB's daily schedule of games.

Colorado Avalanche 🏒

The pain of hockey fans in Quebec City became the joy of puckheads in Colorado when the Nordiques packed their bags and moved out of Canada and into the Mile High City in 1995. The team owes most of their historic success to the move, winning 12 Division titles, three Presidents' Trophies, and a trio of Stanley Cup championships in Colorado.

The Avalanche continue to entertain CO sports fans with winning seasons, thanks in part to drafting sniper Nathan MacKinnon with the No. 1 overall draft pick in 2013. 

Other CO sports betting ⚽

Online sportsbooks also offer betting odds for Major League Soccer (MLS). So, if you’re interested in backing the Colorado Rapids, you’re in luck. Other less popular betting markets include international soccer, PGA tournaments, men’s and women’s tennis majors, and UFC/MMA fight cards.

Sports bettors can check out the top sportsbooks for specific sports, leagues, playoffs, and categories:

Legal sports betting and regulations in Colorado

There are currently 20 online sportsbooks and sports betting apps to choose from in Colorado. There could have been more, but TwinSpires shuttered mobile operations in May 2022, BetWildwood shut down the following month, and WynnBet closed in August 2023. There are 33 total licenses available. So, there remains room for growth in the Rocky Mountain State.

Colorado’s online and mobile sportsbooks

Land-based Colorado sportsbooks

There are 12 land-based, retail Colorado sportsbooks. However, they are far from major city centers like Denver, and most listed below are in Black Hawk, Colorado.

Who can bet on sports in Colorado?

Legal age

You must be at least 21 to wager on sports in Colorado.

Mobile betting

Mobile sports betting went live in Colorado in May 2020 and remains a hot commodity, with 20 operators offering sports betting app services.

Remote registration

You do not need to visit retail sportsbooks to register for an online sportsbook account, and you can take care of sign-up via computer or sports betting app. This process takes less than five minutes to complete.

Within state borders

You don’t have to be a full-time resident of Colorado to wager via online sportsbooks or sports betting apps, but you need to be physically within state borders. Sports betting operators use geotagging software to determine each person’s location when they log into or place a bet using Colorado online sportsbooks.

Retail sportsbooks

In addition to the 20 online sportsbooks and sports betting apps, Colorado offers 12 retail sportsbooks to wager in person, and bettors can find most in Black Hawk casinos.

Taxable winnings

Uncle Sam and the state of Colorado want a slice of your sports betting profits. You’ll be taxed at the federal and state level on profits only. The feds take about 24%, while Rocky Mountain State snatches 4.63%. Remember, you can offset tax liability when you deduct losses from your profits.

What you can't bet on in Colorado

As we’ve touched on throughout this sports betting guide, Colorado is a hotbed for NFL, MLB, NHL, and NBA wagers, but there are some categories you still can’t wager on or that the Department of Gaming is keeping on the sidelines for the near future.

Politics

You can’t wager on politics in Colorado. So, your hopes of laying down some scratch on the odds to win the 2024 US presidential election will have to wait.

Entertainment award ceremonies

Entertainment award shows like the Oscars, Emmys, and Grammys are not allowed in Colorado, and you will not find odds at online sportsbooks. However, unique annual events like the NFL Draft are legal to wager on yearly.

eSports

eSports betting in Colorado is an interesting case study in the gaming industry. You may bet on eSports in Colorado, but each event must be approved individually, and there is no blanket approval process. So, the video game tournaments listed in various sportsbooks may vary depending on if the eSports Integrity Commission approves the event.

What about Colorado college sports?

Several state laws restrict wagers on in-state collegiate teams, but you can bet on all college sports in Colorado, both in-state and out-of-state programs. This means sportsbooks will feature odds on Deion Sanders’ Colorado Buffaloes winning the Pac-12 this fall. However, you won’t find any college player prop odds on the board because they are prohibited.

Responsible sports betting in Colorado

With 20 online and 12 retail sportsbooks active, Colorado’s Division of Gaming (CDOG) is the governing body overseeing sports betting. The CDOG’s mission is to ensure honesty and integrity in the state’s gaming industry. They are in charge of reviewing applications, issuing licenses, managing revenues, enforcing laws, and issuing fines when operators color outside the lines.

The CDOG audit department conducts regular compliance reviews to ensure operators keep honest and accurate accounting books and pay their taxes promptly. The Technical Systems Group of the CDOG verifies safety and security protocols of mobile sports betting products, including field tests to ensure geofencing and identity verification measures are working in the remote registration world.

The CDOG charges a $10,000 application fee to interested operators and, if approved, charges a $125,000 licensing fee that’s good for two years.

A portion of tax revenue from sports betting goes towards treating problem gambling, including the state’s 24-hour hotline: 1-800-522-4700.

National U.S. gambling helpline: 1-800-GAMBLER

Sportsbooks to avoid in Colorado

Once upon a time, before Colorado offered interested parties 20 online sportsbooks, sports betting apps, and 12 retail sportsbooks, bettors would often seek the services of offshore sportsbook operators. These blacklisted sites are unregulated by governing bodies at the federal and state levels. So, you’ll want to avoid these sites and stick to the ones SBR’s editorial team has reviewed.

Below are three examples of offshore sportsbooks that engaged in nefarious business practices rather than providing Colorado sports bettors a positive user experience.

Sports betting across the U.S.

Are you looking for information on sports betting across the U.S.? Check out our comprehensive guide to legal sports betting in the United States.

Sports betting in legal U.S. states

Sports betting in potential legal U.S. states

U.S. sports betting apps

Sports betting in other regions

Stay updated on the status of Canadian sports betting in provinces where it is legalized:

International News

For sports betting in U.K., visit our U.K sports betting pages.